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4 January: Depression linked to social media ‘twice as likely in girls than boys’

Depression linked to social media ‘twice as likely in girls than boys’
In the News

4 January 2019

Cyber-bullying, poor body image and impact on sleep were examined as part of new research

Teenage girls are twice as likely to show depressive symptoms linked to social media use than boys, a new study suggests.

The UCL study found that 12 per cent of light social media users aged 14 and 38 per cent of heavy social media users (who use it for five or more hours a day) of the same age showed signs of having more severe depression.

A quarter of girls showed signs of clinically relevant depressive symptoms, compared to 11 per cent of boys, the study found.

Poor sleep

Girls were also more affected by issues such as body image, self-esteem and appearance than boys, although the gap was not as big.

BACP member Chloe Goddard Mcloughlin, a counsellor at Ranmoor Therapy, said she was not surprised by the results of the research.

“Young girls use social media to project this better life, this idealised existence. It’s more about how you want to be than how you are. This results in feelings of unworthiness.

"The relentless pressure that girls feel to look a certain way, is intensified on social media, so whether girls are comparing themselves to unattainable images of perfection, or feel a pressure to present their best sides online - they are essentially engaging in an activity that places a high currency on looks rather than other less visible qualities such as intellectual curiosity or being valued for the qualities you bring to your relationships.

"Social media is essentially an outlet for our narcissistic self, and can compound pre-existing feelings of emptiness and low self worth."

She added: “Another problem is isolation. Social media is not a real social interaction. It lacks human contact.

“You need to have a social group who you see in person, rather than over a computer or phone screen. Otherwise you can feel very isolated.”